Improvement in machines for bunching and sizing asparagus



v .l. A. IRELAND. M-achi ne fqr Bunohi'ng and Sizing Asparagus.

No, 164,091. PatentedJune8,187-5.

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NITED STATES PATENT cam.

JAPHET A. IRELAND, OF BAKEBSVILLE, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR BUNCHING AND SIZING ASPARAGUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 164,091, dated June 8, 1875; application filed December 16, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAPHET A. IRELAND, of Bakersville, in the county of Atlantic and State of New Jersey, have inventeda new and useful Asparagus-Machine, of which the following is a specification:

Theinvention relates to a machine for bunching and sizing asparagus. It consists of a semicircular trough, crosswise in which are placed tie-cords, 011 which the asparagus is laid.

At one end of the trough are movable sizingplates, which butt the heads of the asparagusstalks.

After the asparagus has been laid in the trough on the tie-cords, and the gages properly adjusted, a hinged cap or frame, having a semicircular opening similar to that of the trough, and to one end of which is attached a cutter, is turned over onto the asparagus; the cutter, being set in advance of the cap, coinpletes the cutting of the stalks to a length, at or before the contact of the cap with its seat. A latch holds the cap in place on the asparagus until the cords are tightly tied around it.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the machine, showing the cap closed on the asparagus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the cap turned backward after the asparagus has been bunched, sized, and tied. Fig. 4. is a plan view of Fig. 3.

A is a semicircular asparagus-trough. B are tie-cords, which lead from the balls a in the box 0. (Dotted lines, Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

They are suspended transversely from the guide-posts 1) into the trough A. D D D are movable sizing-plates, which turn on the pin 0. E is a hinged cap or frame, to theend of which is secured a cutter, F, at such an inclination that its out is completed at or before the completion of the turning motion of the cap. A semicircular opening extends the length of the cap, and is arranged to close exactly upon the trough A. G is a spring latch, which engages with the frame of the handle H of the cap, and holds the cap in place during the process of tying.

After the asparagus has been sorted, one or more of the sizing-plates D turned over, according to the length of the bunch, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4., and the cords B placed, the asparagus is laid in the trough A on the cords, the heads butting against the inner sizingplate. The cap E is then turned over by its handle H. The cutter F, being set in advance of the cap, completes the cutting of the asparagus-stalks to a length at or before the cap comes in contact with its seat. The operation is completed by tying the cords B tightly around the asparagus, as shown at 61, Figs. 3 and 4.

I claim as my invent-ion The trough A, in combination with the tiecords B, the sizing-plates D, the hinged cap E, and the knife F, for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAPHET A. IRELAND.

Witnesses H. W. VIoKERs, FRANoIs D. PASTORIUS. 

